Austrian Official at Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, April 24, 2018 — State Secretary for defense policy and international cooperation, Dumitru Minzarari, met today with State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance of Austria, Hubert Fuchs. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Austria to the Republic of Moldova, Christine Freilinger.

The officials talked about the Moldovan-Austrian military cooperation, the regional situation, as well as the cooperation within international organizations.

Dumitru Minzarari informed the Austrian official about the achievements registered during the implementation of the defense sector reform, with a focus on the development and approval of strategic documents. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense also referred to the project of the National Army’s professionalization that includes the substitution of conscripts with service members, as well as important transformations related to the organization, provision with modern equipment, weapons, and combat vehicles, training, and the defense institution’s activity.

Dumitru Minzarari appreciated Austria’s involvement, as leader state within the multinational group of of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Conventional Ammunition experts, in implementing in the Republic of Moldova, with the support of OSCE, the Project on Enhancing the weapons and ammunition stockpile management in the National Army.

The official thanked the Austrian government for donating, in 2017, two mobile kits for analysis and testing of powder and propelling charge of ammunition to the Laboratory for synthesis, analysis, and testing of the National Army Weapons and Ammunition Center.

Hubert Fuchs said that his country is open to cooperate with the National Army and will support the defense institution’s projects launched in the framework of the sector’s reform.